Mac Jones gives honest insight on playing in the 49ers offense, and it quietly connects back to what his career could have been
It took a few years longer than many expected, but Mac Jones is finally getting his chance with Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers. There’s been plenty of developments since the 2021 NFL Draft, which saw the 49ers pull off a blockbuster deal to move up to the No. 3 overall pick in the […]
It took a few years longer than many expected, but Mac Jones is finally getting his chance with Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers. There’s been plenty of developments since the 2021 NFL Draft, which saw the 49ers pull off a blockbuster deal to move up to the No. 3 overall pick in the draft and position themselves for a quarterback to serve as the heir to Jimmy Garoppolo.
Many, at the time, felt that Jones was the choice for Shanahan, but when the 49ers turned in the card, it was ‘Trey Lance’ written in as the pick. Jones, of course, tumbled to the Patriots and finished the year 10-7 with a Wild Card berth to his name. He finished second in the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year voting while posting 3,801 passing yards and 22 touchdowns.
It appeared to be a potential mistake for the 49ers and the assumptions only snowballed once seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy appeared to commandeer the job from both Garoppolo and Lance late in 2022. But Jones’ path has been rocky since the end of his rookie season, too. And now the tone about both San Francisco’s need for a franchise quarterback and Jones’ viability to fill such a role are dramatically different.
San Francisco has found their man in Purdy. And Jones will play for his third team in as many seasons in 2025 — he’s finally found his way to the Bay area. Even if Jones never fulfills the potential some felt he had as Kyle Shanahan’s prized quarterback, Jones is still hoping that some time with Shanahan can bring his career back from the brink. If Jones becomes a reclamation project down the road, he’ll likely look back on this time shared in the Bay area as a key influence.
The teachings in San Francisco are already striking a cord.
“There’s nothing left up to doubt, if that makes sense. And everything’s based on timing and rhythm and also playing off structure. So, it has all three elements of quarterback play…it’s really interesting to watch it and see how they see the game because it is the correct way to see it. And as you can tell, the quarterback play is very efficient.” – Mac Jones to Sports Illustrated on seeing the game through the 49ers’ frame of mind
Jones did himself a favor when committing to this deal in San Francisco — he committed to a two-year commitment in San Francisco to absorb the teachings of Shanahan and truly absorb the teachings of the offense. Sam Darnold, another former flop in the 1st-round, took on a year in San Francisco in 2023 before collecting another year in the system with Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Darnold played well in the second year of his time on task and then parlayed that into a $100 million contract with the Seahawks.
A lot of things have to go right for Jones to take the same amount of time and parlay it into the same kind of payday for himself. And that includes things that simultaneously go wrong for Purdy, too. But Jones can know going into this season he’s put himself in the best possible position to revive his career in the long-run. He’s tied himself to the coach that everyone thought was best for him way back in 2021, even if it's better late than never.
Now is the time to be a sponge and soak it all up so that when opportunity knocks, Jones can be ready to answer.
Sneaky detail behind Bryce Huff trade shows 49ers are playing the long game when it comes to maximizing the value
Sneaky detail behind Bryce Huff trade shows 49ers are playing the long game when it comes to maximizing the value
